ATLANTA - After completing a difficult non-conference schedule that included contests against ACC foes Clemson and Virginia Tech, the Georgia State volleyball team will hit the road this week to open Sun Belt Conference play with contests against ULM and Louisiana.
The Panthers will open SBC play on Thursday when they visit Monroe, La., to face ULM. A day later, the Panthers will head south to Lafayette, La., to take on Louisiana. The match against Louisiana on Friday will be aired live on ESPN+.
Georgia State hoists a 3-7 record after completing a challenging non-conference schedule which included wins over Presbyterian, California Baptist and Alcorn State.
PANTHER QUICK HITS
- Meisheia Griffin is having another stellar season as the senior has 89 kills on the season while hitting .306.Â
- Erin Wyatt leads the Panthers with 91 kills while ranking second on the team in digs with 103. Wyatt also has 23 blocks on the year. Â
- Earlier this season, Georgia State owned a streak of five games in which it won the first set.
2021 SUNÂ BELTÂ CONFERENCEÂ VOLLEYBALLÂ PRESEASONÂ COACHESÂ POLL
East Division
1. Coastal Carolina (11) – 71
2. Troy (1) – 59
3. Georgia Southern – 36
4. App State – 32
5. South Alabama – 28
6. Georgia State – 26
West Division
1. Texas State (11) – 69
2. UTA – 55
3. Arkansas State (1) – 48
4. Louisiana – 35
5. Little Rock – 27
6. ULM – 18Â
LAST TIME OUT
- Georgia State hit the road to face Clemson in it's last non-conference match of the season. Although the Panthers fell, 0-3, each set was tightly contested.Â
- For the contest, Georgia State was led by Clara Bednarek who tallied seven kills while hitting a stellar .636.Â
-Â Before the matchup against Clemson, the Panthers hosted the GSU Invitational where Meisheia Griffin and Erin Wyatt were tabbed to the All-Tournament team.
THE MATCHUPSÂ
- Georgia State owns an 8-2 mark all-time against ULM. In the last matchup between the teams, the Panthers defeated the Warhawks, 3-0, in 2019 at GSU Sports Arena.Â
- GSU owns a 4-7 record against Louisiana with the last matchup coming last season when the Panthers defeated the Ragin' Cajuns, 3-2.Â
SCOUTING THE WARHAWKS
- ULM holds a 4-11 record; however, the Warhawks hoist a 1-0 mark at home.Â
- Offensively, ULM is led by Cali Assaley who has tallied 159 kills on the season while hitting .206.Â
- The Warhawks back row is led by Madeline Hogan, who leads the team with 146 digs. Â Â
SCOUTING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
- Louisiana owns a 5-3 record this season including a 1-0 mark at home.Â
- Kelsey Bennett leads the Ragin' Cajuns with 128 kills while hitting .268. Bennett also ranks second on the team in digs with 129.Â
- Louisiana earned a 3-0 victory over Lamar in their last match.
NEXT UP
After opening conference play with road contests at ULM and Louisiana, Georgia State will return to Atlanta next weekend to face Appalachian State on Oct. 1 and Coastal Carolina on Oct. 2.
For news and notes, follow Georgia State volleyball on Instagram and Twitter (@GeorgiaStateVB).